📄 Category

infectious diseases

125 papers

Infectious diseases represent one of the most dynamic frontiers in global health, covering everything from seasonal flu outbreaks to emerging viral threats that cross borders. This field focuses on how pathogens spread, how our immune systems respond, and the strategies scientists use to stop infections before they become epidemics. Because the science moves fast, waiting for traditional publication often means missing critical insights that could save lives.

At Gist.Science, we process every new preprint in this category directly from medRxiv to ensure you see the latest findings the moment they appear. Our team transforms these raw studies into both accessible plain-language explanations and detailed technical summaries, bridging the gap between complex research and public understanding. Below are the latest papers in infectious diseases, updated daily with fresh insights from the global research community.

Antibiotic Seeking Pathways and Patterns of Usage among Patients with Productive Coughs Attending Selected Chest Clinics in Nairobi County, Kenya

This study reveals that antibiotic use among adults with productive coughs in Nairobi, Kenya, is widespread and largely empirical, driven by diverse seeking pathways including over-the-counter access and self-medication, which are significantly influenced by gender, income, and medical history, thereby highlighting an urgent need for stricter prescription enforcement and stewardship programs to combat antimicrobial resistance.

MWABU, A. K., Mutai, W. C., Jaoko, W., Mwaniki, J. N., kiiru, J. N.2026-04-06📄 infectious diseases

Quantitative interferon gamma responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a community-based survey of adolescents and adults in Blantyre, Malawi

This study of adolescents and adults in Blantyre, Malawi, demonstrates that analyzing quantitative interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) responses rather than binary results reveals critical age- and sex-specific variations in *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* immunoreactivity and transmission risks that are otherwise obscured, particularly highlighting the impact of HIV and the potential for refined public health strategies in high-burden settings.

Phiri, M. D., Rickman, H. M., Mandalasi, C., Chirambo, A., Jambo, K. C., Mwandumba, H. C., Corbett, E. L., Horton, K. C., Henrion, M. Y. R., MacPherson, P.2026-04-04📄 infectious diseases

Global Burden, Temporal Trends, and Health Inequalities of Early-Onset Group B Streptococcus Infection in Neonates, 1990-2021: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

This study analyzes Global Burden of Disease 2021 data to reveal that while early-onset Group B Streptococcus mortality in neonates has declined by nearly 50% globally since 1990, significant disparities persist with slower progress in low-development regions and a concentration of the relative burden among the poorest populations despite narrowing absolute gaps.

Wen, Q., Wang, X., Wu, Y., Jiang, Y., Xu, Z.2026-04-04📄 infectious diseases

Comparative effectiveness of mRNA-1273 versus protein-based NVX-CoV2705 vaccination on COVID-19-related outcomes among US insured adults during 2024--2025: a retrospective matched cohort study

In a retrospective matched cohort study of US insured adults during the 2024–2025 season, the mRNA-based vaccine mRNA-1273 demonstrated significantly greater effectiveness against medically attended COVID-19 and hospitalization compared to the protein-based NVX-CoV2705 vaccine.

Wilson, A., Beck, E., Hensler, H., Vicic, N., Joshi, K., Patry, E., Li, L., Wang, J., Clarke, C.2026-04-04📄 infectious diseases

IgG antibody responses against antigenic salivary peptides from subgenus Nyssorhynchus and Anopheles vectors in GrandAnse, Haiti

This study evaluated human exposure to *Anopheles* mosquito vectors in Grand Anse, Haiti, by quantifying IgG antibody responses to subgenus-specific salivary peptides, revealing significant age-related differences, associations with *Plasmodium* infection, and the utility of these biomarkers for characterizing vector exposure dynamics in low-transmission settings.

Schwinn, A., Eaton, W., Harris, S., Joseph, V., Existe, A., Boncy, J., Rogier, E., Chang, M. A., Impoinvil, D., Ashton, R. A., Druetz, T., Eisele, T. P., Londono-Renteria, B.2026-04-03📄 infectious diseases

High risk of hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia in myasthenia gravis patients with type I IFN autoantibodies

Myasthenia gravis patients, particularly those with thymoma, exhibit a significantly elevated risk of producing type I interferon autoantibodies, which in turn drastically increases their likelihood of developing life-threatening hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia.

Gervais, A., Marchal, A., Maillard, A., Le Voyer, T., Rosain, J., Philipot, Q., Bizien, L., Peel, J., Cederholm, A., Migaud, M., Pons, S., Saker, K., Laforet, P., Aubart, M., Gitiaux, C., Biggs, C., L (…)2026-04-02📄 infectious diseases

Influenza vaccine effectiveness against influenza A-associated hospitalization and severe in-hospital outcomes among adults in the United States, 2024-2025

During the severe 2024–2025 influenza season in the United States, vaccination significantly reduced the risk of influenza A-associated hospitalization and severe in-hospital outcomes, including ICU admission and death, among adults.

Lewis, N. M., Cleary, S., Harker, E. J., Safdar, B., Ginde, A. A., Peltan, I. D., Gaglani, M., Columbus, C., Martin, E. T., Lauring, A. S., Steingrub, J. S., Hager, D. N., Mohamed, A., Johnson, N. J. (…)2026-04-02📄 infectious diseases

Methods of adjustment for public health and social measures in post-licensure vaccine studies in children in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

This systematic review of 64 post-licensure vaccine studies in sub-Saharan Africa reveals that none accounted for concurrent public health and social measures, highlighting a critical gap in study design that may compromise the interpretability of vaccine effectiveness estimates, particularly for pathogens like pneumococcus where results showed substantial heterogeneity.

Ndeketa, L., Vaselli, N. M., Pitzer, V. E., Dodd, P. J., Hungerford, D., French, N.2026-04-02📄 infectious diseases

RNase HII-assisted amplification (RHAM) for rapid point-of-care monkeypox detection

This study demonstrates that the Pluslife Biotech RHAM assay is a rapid, extraction-free, point-of-care molecular test capable of detecting all monkeypox virus clades with high sensitivity and specificity across diverse clinical specimens, offering a practical solution for outbreak control in resource-limited settings.

Kamhieh-Milz, J., Kamhieh-Milz, S., Schwarz, F., Michel, J., Nitsche, A., Puyskens, A.2026-04-02📄 infectious diseases

Attitudes towards new tuberculosis vaccines among adults, adolescents and their caregivers in southern Mozambique, 2024

A 2024 mixed-methods study in southern Mozambique reveals that 77% of adults and adolescents are willing to receive a new tuberculosis vaccine, with adolescents showing significantly higher willingness than adults and overall uptake likely to be high if the vaccine is endorsed by trusted authorities.

Lima, A., Campos, I., Kim, D., Shiiba, M., Cranmer, L. M., Acacio, S., Garcia-Basteiro, A. L., Vasudevan, L., Nelson, K. N. B.2026-04-01📄 infectious diseases